The new automated traffic fine system incorporates sensors built into vehicles and Communication and Information Technologies (CITs)

If you're the type of driver that leans more toward offensive rather than defensive driving, you might want to take it easy on the speeding and pay attention to those stoplights -- systems to automate traffic fines are in the making.

Researchers from the Universidad Carlos III Madrid's (UC3M) Information and Communication Technology Security Group have been working on the E-SAVE project, which aims to use IT to improve traffic regulation.

The new automated traffic fine system incorporates sensors built into vehicles and Communication and Information Technologies (CITs). The new system has three main components: a mechanism that allows drivers to report others while maintaining anonymity and authenticity; a way for sending the notification of a fine directly to the vehicle in question, and a mechanism that allows the offending driver to create electronic evidence in order to defend him/herself in the case that they receive a notification. The offending driver can do this by "asking" surrounding drivers with sensors to be witnesses to the scene.

The whole system is based on vehicle-to-vehicle communication via sensors, where cars can trade information in the flow of traffic and allow for crimes to be reported.

A huge aspect of the new system is to keep driver information confidential so that credentials are not stolen or abused. It's also important that driver information is updated and accurate for the purpose of sending fines correctly. The team is doing this through a project called PRECIOUS, where cryptographic methods of anonymous authentication and zero knowledge tests are used. This rids the duplication of information.

Sad thing is, the American economic engine demands as many people as popssible go out and work. Thing is, if you can't transport yourself you're immediately relegated to a much narrower set of life options.

Honestly, the bottom line is, we give licenses to people with little to no training and do not even evaluate whether or not htey are responsible in any way shape or form or competetent.

Obviously, if we restrict the people who have licenses to people are are competent, public and private revenues go way down and the ramifications sweep out much farther than that.

We think things like fines will nudge idiots into place, but we've seen that doesn't work in any situation. That's the problem.